Denture material



Patented Feb. 21, 1928.

UNITED STATES JULIUS AIZJERER, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

DENTURE ATERIAL.

No Drawing.

This invention relates more particularly to the preparation of wires orplates for use in dentures and is concerned with that phase which isencountered in altering the shape of a wire, plate or the like to causeit to fit a given dental arrangement. The invention has a broaderaspect, but is of special utility and value in connection with thedental art.

This invention is predicated upon the observation and discovery thatmetal in the form of wire, or plates, or the like, possessing aninherent resiliency, that is, the quality of partially sprin ing backwhen the bending or deforming tool or implement is released, can berendered inactive with re spect to this elastic quality, provided it iscovered with a softer metal. Thus it has been found that piano wire ifcoated with a tin sheath or covered with copper or other soft metal andthen bent to a desired shape, will retain that shape without exercise ofan elastic. tendency to alter said shape, even after the coating orsheath is removed. The same thing is true of plates. Thus certain alloysof platinum-gold plate exhibit the elastic tendency when deformed by theusual tools or appliances; but when the plate is coated with copper orother soft metals it can be bent into any desired shape and it willretain that shape accurately even after the coating is removed. It isbelieved that the discovery deals with facts thus far unknown toscience, and any explanation of the phenomenon is therefore difficult toformulate. The new invention, however, lends itself to application invarious arts, but particularly in the art relating to mechanicaldentalwork of various kinds. Thus in the art dealing with dentures,wires and clasps are constantly used, and it is essential that suchshaping or deformation of the metal as the dental expert applies shouldbe as nearly permanent as possible, and that the metal when bent to agiven or intended shape should not, by springing back to its initialshape. resist the efforts of the manipulator or defeat his objects.

In the case of dental plates, the difficulties due to the resiliency ofthe metal have been such that elastic platinum-gold, although adesirable material for this purpose, has-not been made use of for thepreparation of dental plates because it was impossibleto shape thismetal in such a way that it would take and retain an accurate, definiteand pre-determined shape. The same tendency 7 Application filed March5,1925. Serial No. 13,377.

to exercise resilient effects has therefore caused difliculties in themaking of perfect fitting clasps as anchors on teeth for removablebridges and plates. All of these difficulties are overcome by thepresent invention by means of which resilient wires and plate gold andother resilient material becomes usefully available.

In carrying out the present invention in connection with a dental plate,for example, plate gold or an alloy of gold, platinum and copper, andusually from .010 to .020 of an inch thickness, is electroplated orotherwise covered with copper. From a plaster or similar impression ofthe part of the mouth to be dealt with. there is prepared first a zincdie and then a lead counterdie. The plated platinum-gold is placedbetween these dies and when the lead die has descended upon the zincdie, the intervening platinum gold sheath with its copper coating willaccurately assume the exact form and shape of the die, and as the diesare separated the plate will reta n the shape which the dies give to it.The copper can then be peelled off or removed by treatment with nitrica-cic, 7 the gold comes out of the bath with a smooth surface.The'edg'es of the plate can then be accurately cut out to fit that partof the mouth for which the plate is intended. Throughout all of theseoperations the shape of the plate will not be altered by reason of anyinherent resilient tendency of the metal, and the final shaped metalplate will fit the mouth with precision. In the case of wire. provisionis first made for a coating of its surface with a tube or plating ofcopper or other softer metal. whereupon the wire is bent into thedesired shape which it then retains without bringing into play resilienteffects even after the coating is removed. Copper is probably the bestmaterial to use for the coating in dental work. Aluminum might be used,but is not so uniformly satisfactory as copper because in the necessaryannealing of the aluminum-covered plate the aluminum might melt beforethe platinum gold has received the proper heat. If aluminum is used as acoating ma terial, its removal is effected by the use of hydrochloricacid. If tin is used its removal will be effected by the use of nitricacid.

The protecting cover or coating, irrespective of the particular soft.metal used for that purpose will, in addition to the funcwhich does notaffect the gold, so that tions described, preserve and protect theinterior precious metal from being damaged by instruments, tools, andpliers and the like, used in the shaping or forming opera.- tion.

There are obviously many methods of varying the details of the inventionWithout de artin from the sairit thereof; but it is the intention of thepresent application to claim the invention in its broader aspect as.

including all variations and equivalents.

I claim A metal. structure for use-in dentistry, con-.

sisting' of a resilient alloyed gold member with an electroplating ofcopper covering substantially the entire surface of said mem-.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand: 1

JULIUS

